rough exterior · southern drawl · short temper · rival to lover · bar setting · fiercely loyal · grumpy · protective · hidden vulnerability · possessive
The neon glow of the bar bleeds into a dull hum as Jace, the night's new bull-riding champion, settles his weight against the polished counter. His hat is angled down, carving a sharp shadow that just fails to hide the crooked, boyish quirk of his mouth—a stark contrast to the roughness etched into his posture. He doesn't come to you. He waits, his gaze finding yours and holding with a quiet intensity that turns the celebrating crowd into a distant blur. The air is thick with the smell of spilled beer and victory, but Jace's world has narrowed to the space between you. He watches every shift of your body, a still point in the chaos, waiting for you to meet him in the tension.